One on one with Tom Saintfiet

In a rather dramatic twist, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) last week announced that Flames caretaker coach Tom Saintfiet (TS) would not claim the $10 000 [about K3.4 million] that he asked for as a bonus in the event that Malawi beats Nigeria in next month’s make-or-break 2014 World Cup qualifier. According to FAM the money will be channelled towards a charitable cause. Garry Chirwa (GC) sought more clarification from Saintfiet on his U-turn during a recent press briefing.

GC: Were you under any sort of pressure to change your mind regarding the Nigeria game bonus?

TS: Money was not a motivation for me to come and coach Malawi national team. To me beating Nigeria will be the best bonus and that is why I offered to work as a volunteer. Of course, a lot was written in the newspapers and I needed to make a point that I was not driven by money. In fact, I was offered a job in Lebanon where I was offered four times more than the bonus that I was offered for a win against Nigeria.

GC: Your hiring caused controversy and a lot has been said and written, has that affected your focus in any way?

TS: My focus is the task at hand and that is preparing for the Nigeria game, but it is not pleasant when journalists write things that are incorrect with wrong facts about me. However, I have no control over that. So, I try not to lose energy over that.

GC: You appear confident of guiding the Flames to victory against Nigeria, where are you deriving the confidence from considering that you are fairy new here and you will be up against the reigning African champions at their own backyard?

TS: Before I came I had been following the Malawi national team. When I was coach for Namibia, we played the Flames twice; First, it was during the 2009 Cosafa Cup in South Africa and we won 1-0 and then two years later [in 2011] we drew 0-0 and from what I saw, I believe Malawi has a good side that can make it with proper planning and approach. I have also been interacting with all sorts of people, going to matches and over and above that, I believe I have got a game plan to beat Nigeria. It will be a combination of my knowledge, history and background. Of course, Nigeria are one of the giants on the continent, but I believe we can go to Nigeria and surprise them, Africa and the world. Malawi is just 270 minutes away from World Cup and with solid preparations coupled with determination, we can make it.

GC: Having watched quite a number of games, what’s your impression about the standards of the game in the country?

TS: It has been quite interesting to travel around watching local games and my view is that there is talent in abundance and Malawians have passion for the game. However, there are other circumstances that make the players fail to express themselves such as standards of the pitches.